THE family of a Minehead teenager hospitalised with a rare and debilitating illness for more than six months has praised the local community for its "amazing" support.

Levi Wooten-Hunt was diagnosed with a rare form of ulcerative colitis, an auto-immune disease, last October.

Initially treated in Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital, the 18-year-old was transferred to a specialist unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in March - 150 miles from home.

And local people and businesses have stepped in to help make her fight to recover more bearable by raising hundreds of pounds.

Levi, who was studying child care and working part-time at Minehead's Morrisons supermarket before falling ill, has few visitors during the week so television has proved vital for entertainment and a mobile phone an essential link with family and friends.

However, the cost of buying in the television service has been significant, with the family paying out at least £900 during Levi's stay in Musgrove alone.

The financial burden so shocked long standing family friend Nikki Bowditch that she decided she had to do something to help.

After succeeding in negotiating to slightly reduce the cost of the television charges she set up a Facebook page to raise funds to cover the ongoing cost.

And the donations started to flood in.

To date, around £300 has come from individuals, while Alcombe's Co-Op raised £531 with a raffle.

Meanwhile, pupils and staff at St Michael's First School - where Levi was a pupil - raised £171 through a non-uniform day and a further £130 from a collecting tin at the school.

A total of 32 collecting tins are currently in businesses around Minehead and Foxes Academy in the town is also planning some fundraising.

"All I did was start the ball rolling and it has just escalated beyond anything we could have imagined," said Nikki, whose daughter Lauren has been Levi's best friend since playgroup days.

"We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response and people's kindness.

"This was never about raising thousands of pounds - it was about trying to make Levi's life more bearable.

"She has been virtually bed-bound for the last six months and has had a horrible time - it's so awful for an 18-year-old who should be enjoying herself and living life at her age."

The money raised by St Michael's has paid for an iPad for Levi, with the Co-Op cash funding a two-year mobile phone contract that will give her unlimited internet access as the hospital does not have wi-fi.

Other money is continuing to fund the television service and could even help travelling costs for family and friends.

Nikki, her partner Chris Sperring and Lauren visited Levi last Friday to give her the new iPad.

And Levi's mum Denise, who works at Minehead Middle School, said her daughter had been amazed and surprised by the gift.

"She was straight on the phone to tell us," she said.

"It's been, and still is very tough for Levi. She's been very ill but we're hoping she's beginning to make progress, although there is a long way to go.

"It's not easy for people to visit her because it is a long way."

Denise travels most weekends to see Levi and her father David Wooten also visits, along with other relatives.

Denise's partner Stephen Hunt has also played a crucial supporting role, taking care of Levi's younger sister Milly, 16, and brother David, 14, who are both at school in Minehead.

Levi has undergone a number of operations, had seven blood transfusions and is still unable to eat normally, meaning she has lost a significant amount of weight.

"It can be very lonely for Levi and she does get quite down sometimes, although overall she is bearing up well," said Denise.

"But the response from local people and businesses to her situation has been amazing.

"I can't thank Nikki enough for what she has done and I can't believe how kind people are - it's just fantastic."

Money is still being raised for Levi - more details are available on the Get Well Soon Levi Facebook page.

And when she is eventually able to return home, any outstanding cash will go to the UK charity the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease.